Cocaine use linked to violent behaviour

London, Mar 14 (ANI): A new study has found a link between cocaine use and violent behaviour.

According to the figures by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), officers drug-tested 1,000 people arrested for violent offences in the seven month period to March last year.

While half of the offenders were tested positive for drugs, 86pct of them were tested positive for cocaine.

“These statistics are important because they begin to paint a picture of the reasons why people commit violent crimes, which means we have a better chance of preventing them happening, the Telegraph quoted Chief Inspector Dave Boon, who leads GMP’’s drug intervention programme as saying.

“But it’’s important to note that we are in the very early stages of collating these figures, and only a relatively small amount of offenders have been tested to date.

“We cannot afford to ignore the link between violence, drugs and alcohol that is apparent in city centres all over the UK every weekend.

“What this survey is doing is trying to prove that link and developing ways to manage the problem,” he added.

The charity Drugscope published the findings in its Druglink magazine.

“The investigation carried out by our Druglink magazine does suggest some link between powder cocaine use and violent and aggressive behaviour, said DrugScope chief executive Martin Barnes.

“However, because the drug is so often taken in combination with alcohol we need to be cautious about claims that cocaine alone can lead to violent offending.

“Our investigation also shows that an individual’’s personality and the environment they are drinking or taking drugs in will also play a significant role in determining the likelihood of violent behaviour,” Barnes added. (ANI)